Double jig-saw puzzle game

ABSTRACT

A double jigsaw puzzle game wherein two opposing players or teams are provided with identically cut and illustrated, but differently colored, pieces of a scene. A playing board is provided which also includes the scene depicted by the assembled playing pieces. Each player starts with one of the opposite edge portions of the scene on the board and attempts to complete a major portion of the scene by placing the pieces properly on the board in advance of his opponent. As a player progresses with the placement of contiguous pieces of the puzzle, he is credited with scores as indicated on certain of the puzzle pieces. Further there is provided a plurality of playing pieces for each player which he may advantageously place on indicated sections of the puzzle scene as such sections are completed by the player. A starting strip is formed along each of two opposite sides of the board, the inner edges of these strips interlocking with puzzle pieces having a complementary configuration.

United States Patent [72] Inventor NormanT.McFarland Urbana, 111.

[21 Appl. No. 704.699 [22 Filed Feb. 12, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 26,1971 [73] Assignee Marvin Glass 8: Associates Chicago, Ill. apartnership 54 DOUBLE JIGSAW PUZZLE'GA'ME 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

FOREIGN PATENTS 10,653 191 1 Great Britain ABSTRACT: A double jigsawpuzzle game wherein two opposing players or teams are provided withidentically cut and illustrated, but differently colored, pieces of ascene. A playing board is provided which also includes the scenedepicted by the assembled playing pieces. Each player starts with one ofthe opposite edge portions of the scene on the board and attempts tocomplete a major portion of the scene by placing the pieces properly onthe board in advance of his opponent. As a player progresses with theplacement of contiguous pieces of the puzzle, he is credited with scoresas indicated on certain of the puzzle pieces. Further there is provideda plurality of playing pieces for each player which he mayadvantageously place on indicated sections of the puule scene as suchsections are completed by the player. A starting strip is formed alongeach of two opposite sides of the board, the inner edges of these stripsinterlocking with puzzle pieces having a complementary configuration.

PATENTEuJAuzslsn v 3.558136 BY 52,, 8. ATTORNEY INVENTOR DOUBLE JllG-SAWPUZZLE GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generallyto jigsaw puzzles and is particularly directed to a novel form of gamewhich is provided by supplying the opposing players with essentiallyiden cal but distinguishable puzzle pieces, so that they can vie witheach other in a race to complete a major portion ofa single puzzle scenefrom the duplicate puzzles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A jigsaw puzzle game comprising a plurality ofpairs of irregularly cut puzzle pieces which can be assembled to provideduplicates of a particular scene differing only in color from eachother, puzzle piece portions of each of said duplicate scenes includingindicia thereon providing scoring means for the completion of each saidportion in the puzzle, and a playing board including means defining theopposite edges of a single reproduction of said scene, with oneedge-defining means being in one of the colors on said pairs of piecesand the other edge having the other color on said pairs of pieces andthe other edge having the other color on said pairs of pieces, wherebyeach of two opposing players or teams of players use one of thedifferently colored sets of puzzle pieces in an attempt to complete amajor portion of the scene in advance of the opponent and achieve ascore as determined by said indicia-bearing pieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of the gameboard,

FIG. 2 is a reduced plan view of the board, with a portion of the puzzlecompleted and omitting the illustrations seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a plurality of playing piecesused in the game, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a typical puzzle piece used informing the scene.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game includes a game board lpreferably composed of two sections 12 and I4, each having a dovetailedor other irregular edge complementary to a corresponding edge of theother, so that the two will fit together in an interlocking joint 16 andyet permit separation of sections 12 and 14 to thereby conserve space inpackaging and storage. Board has on its face a landscape depictingnumerous objects and features which become objectives or targets for theplayers, and a large number different irregularly shaped puzzle pieces,as indicated at I8 and 20, are linked or fastened together byinterlocking portions of their irregular edges to cover board 10. Whenthe puzzle pieces completely cover board I0 they provide the same sceneillustrated on the board. However, in playing the game, two opponents,or teams, are each given a full set of puzzle pieces which are alikeexcept that they are of different colors, and the opposing players viewith one another in a race to complete a single reproduction of thescene on the board from the two complete sets of puzzle pieces.

Along one of the long edges of board [0 there is formed a strip 22 whichhas an irregular edge inwardly of the margin of board 10 so shaped as tointerlock with the first rank of pieces which belong in the vicinity ofthis edge. A similar strip 24 is fixed along the opposite long edge ofboard 10. If desired, each of strips 22 and 24 may be composed of ranksof irregular pieces similar to those used in completing the rest of thescene. The pieces that belong in the region of edge 24 of board 10 areshaped to interlock with the irregular edge of strip 24. The pieces maythen be built out from strips 22 and 24 by interlocking piece to pieceas rapidly as the skill of the players will permit.

In addition, the scene on board 10 is marked off in grids or squareswhich preferably do not correspond with the irregular edges of thepieces. and each square is also marked on the puzzle pieces forming it,together with a number on the board and on one of the pieces in each ofselected squares, which numbers are used in counting the scoresofplayers completing each selected squares. An example of a pieceincluded in a numbered square is shown in FIG. 4.

The landscape depicted on board It) includes a representation of a river25 which flows lengthwise of board 50 and divides the area roughly intotwo equal parts. Additional playing pieces in the form of bridges 26 areprovided which are threedimensional units to be placed across the riverat places in dicated on the board. The proper placements for the bridgesare indicated by contrasting colored spots 28 on particular puzzlepieces, as shown in piece 30 in FIG. 4, which will fit only in locationswhere bridge abutments are needed.

For use in playing the game other three-dimensional units are supplied.For example, a paratrooper is indicated at 32 (FIG. 3) and a tank at 34and each opponent is supplied with several of each of these pieceshaving the same color as his particular set of puzzle pieces. One ormore radio towers 36 are also provided, and each opponent is suppliedwith flags 38 which identify him or his team and which has a plugportion 46 sized to fit in suitable holes 44 (FIG. 4) in appropriatepuzzle pieces to identify important objectives on the scene.

In playing the game sides are chosen in any suitable manner and one sideis given a set of irregular pieces, bridges. paratroopers, tanks, radiotowers and flags, all of a characteristic color, while the other side isgiven the same except that all the pieces are of a different color. Theopponents then start to place pieces on the board, linking them withtheir particular strip, for example 24, and with each other,particularly with the object of securing strategic elements. One of theobjectives might be the airfield 42. As soon as this is completed (byassembling the pieces forming the square which includes the airfieldportion bearing the hole 44 for receiving a flag 33) that side may usehis paratroopers, which is done by placing a paratrooper on ones ownpiece, whereupon it may be linked with an opponent's piece of adifierent color. Also such piece may cross the river whether or not abridge has been put in place. In this way a player can begin to takeopponents territory without waitingfor a bridge to be built. Airfield 42is pro vided with a hole 44 of a size to receive plug 40 so that theplayer who first secures the field can plant his flag there. Anotherobjective is the tank park 46. As soon as the square including theportion of tank park 46 bearing the 50 point value is completed, theplayer may use his tanks by placing one on one of his own pieces. Anopponent may not link one of his pieces with a piece so protected.

Other objectives are representations of oil tanks 48, ammunition dumps50, docks 52 and a factory 54, and each may be provided with a hole 44for reception of a players flag 38.

The scene, as well as being depicted on the pieces, is marked offarbitrarily into squares which preferably do not correspond with theirregular edges of the playing pieces, so that several playing piecesmust be put down in order to complete a square, and when this is donesome of the pieces will lap over into another square. Each'square isassigned a value generally proportional to the value of the territorycovered by it, taking into account the objects included in the area, anda player must complete an entire square to receive the value of thatsquare. These values are added at the end of the game to determine thescore of each player or team. The players do not take turns any morethan they would in a real battle, but secure their own territory andtake as much of the opponents as they can as rapidly as possible, andthere is room for the exercise of considerable skill and strategy on thepart of a player in making opportunities to place the bridges and to usethe paratroopers and tanks in a manner to gain the greatest advantagefor his own side, and to confuse the enemy" as much as possible.

It follows that the side that secures and takes the most territory, andparticularly the most important territory, will also win the highestscore when the landscape is complete and the game is over.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a specificembodiment, variations, modifications and improvements may be madewithout departing from the principles of this invention as defined inthe appended claims.

lclaim:

l. Ajigsaw puzzle game comprising a plurality of pairs of irregularlycut puzzle pieces which can be assembled to provide duplicates of aparticular scene differing only in color from each other. puzzle pieceportions of each of said duplicate scenes including indicia thereonproviding scoring means for the completion of each said portion in thepuzzle, and a playing board including means defining the opposite edgesof a single reproduction of said scene, with one edge-defining meansbeing in one of the colors on said pairs of pieces and the other edgehaving the other color on said pairs of pieces. whereby each of twoopposing players or teams of players use one of

1. A jigsaw puzzle game comprising a plurality of pairs of irregularlycut puzzle pieces which can be assembled to provide duplicates of aparticular scene differing only in color from each other, puzzle pieceportions of each of said duplicate scenes including indicia thereonproviding scoring means for the completion of each said portion in thepuzzle, and a playing board including means defining the opposite edgesof a single reproduction of said scene, with one edge-defining meansbeing in one of the colors on said pairs of pieces and the other edgehaving the other color on said pairs of pieces, whereby each of twoopposing players or teams of players use one of the differently coloredsets of puzzle pieces in an attempt to complete portions of the scene inadvance of the opponent and achieve a score as determined by saidindicia-bearing pieces.
 2. A jigsaw puzzle game as set forth in claim 1,including playing pieces for placement on completed portions of thepuzzle in accordance with indicia on said portions.